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“Is that what Kennedy said?” I countered. The second the words left my mouth, I wanted to take them back.
Her eyes narrowed. “I’m a big girl and make my own decisions,” she informed me tartly. “And, right now, I choose to leave.”
“I’m hardly going to keep you prisoner,” I said, trying to make light of the situation. “But I thought…”
“You thought what?” she asked, tilting her head in that cute way I was beginning to like so much.
I stepped closer. “I thought there was something between us.”
“Something more than a one-night stand?”
“Yeah, maybe,” I said slowly.
Ivy chuckled, but it sounded forced. “Sure.” Swinging her purse over her shoulder, she turned toward the door. She grasped the handle, turned the knob and then hesitated. With a last glance over her shoulder, she said, “It was nice meeting you, Finn, but we never would’ve lasted.”
Annoyance swept through me and I marched over and grabbed the door before she could pull it shut behind her. “That’s presumptuous. You barely know me.”
“Exactly,” she responded with a sad little tilt of her mouth. “And that’s for the best.”
“I don’t agree.” The fierceness in my tone took me by surprise, but I meant it. I didn’t want her to walk away from me.
“Bye, Finn.”
Then she was gone. And as stupid as it sounds, it felt like she took a piece of me with her. Maybe it was the little kernel of hope that had started to grow the moment we spoke. I swear to God, there was something there and I knew damn well she felt it, too.
So why was she running away?
My phone starts buzzing and I snap out of the daydream. Swiping it off the table, I see Dash’s name on the caller ID.
“Finn here,” I answer.
“Hey, Finn.” Dash sounds all business, though I have witnessed quite a few women swoon over his deep, velvet voice. “Eden and Colt have a job in Manhattan and I need you to fly them out tomorrow morning at 0800 hours.”
“Sure thing.” Easy answer. Even though I was hoping to get the finishing touches done on the P-51, I wouldn’t mind a trip to NYC. Because, of course, the first thing I think is that’s where Ivy lives. Not that it matters. I have no intention of reaching out to her. Especially after our most recent encounter.
As much as I’d love to run into her, I know I’m permanently off her radar due to a big-time fuck-up.
“It’s a quick security gig and you’ll be in and out within the day.”
“Roger that.”
After hanging up, my mind wanders back to Dash and Lake’s wedding. Ivy came as a guest, arriving with Kennedy and Aidan, and the moment I saw her, I knew I wouldn’t be able to stay away. Even though she pretty much told me she was a no-fly zone.
I cornered her at the reception, and she didn’t appreciate it. I’d been thinking about her nonstop since we met at Rex’s and I wanted to know why she left so suddenly that night. It was about more than just my ego. I can’t exactly place my finger on it, but I needed a reason why she was giving me the cold shoulder.
She immediately turned defensive. Accused me of ambushing her and told me she didn’t owe me an explanation. We ended up arguing and it turned into a disaster. I know I shouldn’t have pushed her, but I wanted answers.
And maybe a chance to convince her she was wrong.
She stormed off, leaving me to stew. Without the closure I was after. She has a way of getting under my skin like no one else can. I wish I could just forget about her, but to my complete and utter annoyance, it’s a feat that’s proven impossible.
???
Twenty-four hours later, I’m sitting on a corner stool at Rock Bottom, my favorite bar near the airport, drinking my usual ginger ale and lime, killing time while Eden and Colt are out on their job. It’s running longer than expected, so we’ll travel back late tonight. Tracing my index finger over the scarred bartop, studying the marks on the wood, Ivy Monroe works her way back into my thoughts.
I can’t get her out of my head. It’s like she’s burrowed in there and the more I fight it, the more she takes hold and spreads. Like a fucking parasite.
I need to find a way to strip my mind of her memory. Find something else to focus on since someone else won’t seem to do the trick. I thought about trying to fuck her out of my system, but the minute I start thinking about going with another woman, my sails deflate. And when women have approached me, I’m just not interested. It’s like Ivy cast some sort of spell on me and other women have lost their appeal.
